Winter isn’t exactly peak season for tourism in Venice—and that’s exactly why it’s the best time for you to visit. Unlike summer, when the city belongs to out-of-towners, La Serenissima in winter is deserted, quiet, and, yes, serene.
If the mist-shrouded canals and melancholy romance aren’t enough of a draw, rooms at luxe hotels like The Gritti Palace and the Baglioni Hotel Luna are available for a fraction of their high-season rates, while landmarks like Saint Mark’s Basilica sit blissfully empty.
There’s still plenty of excitement, if you seek it: Carnevale kicks off on January 23, breathing life into the city’s sleepy streets with food, music, and dancing. Sure, Venice is enchanting any time of year—but go now, while you can have it all to yourself.
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Venice Carnevale
From January 23 through February 9, La Serenissima sloughs off its winter gloom and comes alive for Carnevale, an annual open-air festival that fills the city with music, dancing, and masked party-goers. There are events every day—from colorful boat parades on the banks of Cannaregio to masquerade balls—but the highlight of Carnevale is the world-famous masked costume contest that takes place in Piazza San Marco on February 7. Also not to be missed:The King’s Banquet, a nightly feast held at Venice’s magnificent historic shipyard, Arsenale, beginning January 30 (tickets must be booked online in advance).
Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor’s Venice Guide
Campo San Polo Ice Rink
Every winter, from the beginning of December until the end of Carnevale, Venice’s largest square, Campo San Polo, is turned into a gigantic ice-skating rink. The ovoid rink, which can accommodate up to 200 skaters, features a decorative ice sculpture at its center and is flanked by market stalls selling food, mulled wine, and local arts and crafts. A day pass to the rink is quite reasonable for Venice: €10 for adults and €8 for children, with rental skates included. Pro tip: visit after dark to avoid the crowds and skate amid the glittering city lights.
Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor’s Venice Guide
Caffè Florian
Being Italy’s oldest coffee house, opened in 1720, the iconic Caffè Florian is worth visiting any time of year. But during the chilly, dark days of winter, its plush red velvet banquettes and warm ambiance are especially enticing. What you’re here for is the hot chocolate: it’s thick, creamy, and ganache-like, served in a porcelain cup with biscotti for dipping. It’s no wonder that literary greats like Casanova, Goethe, Proust, and Dickens were said to be regulars, finding inspiration in the caffè’s charming atmosphere and belly-warming beverages (try Casanova’s namesake hot chocolate, topped with mint cream and chocolate shavings).
Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor’s Venice Guide
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